Only a handful of teams offer the ultimate cheat code: four games in all three weeks. These are your goldmines for fantasy playoffs. If you've got players on these squads, you're sitting pretty.
* **Milwaukee Bucks:** Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard. You're set. Even their role players like Bobby Portis or whoever is starting at center could be viable streamers with 12 games in three weeks.
* **Orlando Magic:** Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner. Cole Anthony becomes an interesting dart throw. Jalen Suggs could be a steals monster. Their pace is usually slow, but 12 games is 12 games.
* **Philadelphia 76ers:** Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey. If they're healthy, you're rolling. Tobias Harris, if he's still there and still relevant, gets a boost.
* **Sacramento Kings:** De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis. Malik Monk, if he's still draining threes off the bench, gets a huge bump. Keegan Murray's quiet production benefits massively.
These four teams are the backbone of any championship run. Prioritize their players in trades or even earlier in your draft if you know your league's playoff structure.
Here's where it gets granular. We're looking for specific players to target based on their team's schedule each individual week. Every game counts.
This week kicks off the fantasy playoffs, and you want to start strong. Beyond the four teams above, a few others have excellent schedules.
* **Four-Game Teams (beyond the core four):**
* **Atlanta Hawks:** Trae Young, Dejounte Murray. Saddiq Bey could get hot. Onyeka Okongwu is a per-minute monster, and four games makes him a solid stream for blocks and boards.
* **Boston Celtics:** Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown. Kristaps Porzingis' health is always a concern, but four games is huge for his big man stats. Derrick White gets a boost for his all-around production.
* **Charlotte Hornets:** Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball. Given their injury history, this is a riskier proposition, but Brandon Miller's scoring upside is tempting. Nick Richards could be a double-double threat.
* **Cleveland Cavaliers:** Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland. Evan Mobley's blocks and efficiency make him a great add. Max Strus or Caris LeVert could have a big scoring night or two.
* **Golden State Warriors:** Stephen Curry. Draymond Green for defensive stats. Jonathan Kuminga, if he's getting consistent minutes, is an explosive scorer.
* **Houston Rockets:** Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green. Amen Thompson's steals and assists look juicy. Jabari Smith Jr.'s threes and boards could be valuable.
* **Los Angeles Clippers:** Kawhi Leonard, Paul George. James Harden's assists. Terance Mann becomes an interesting deeper league play.
* **Los Angeles Lakers:** LeBron James, Anthony Davis. Austin Reaves is a reliable secondary scorer. Rui Hachimura could get some efficient points.
* **Memphis Grizzlies:** Ja Morant (if healthy), Desmond Bane. Jaren Jackson Jr.'s blocks are always elite. Even a healthy Marcus Smart would be a good stream for steals and assists.
* **Miami Heat:** Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro's scoring gets a bump. Jaime Jaquez Jr. could be a good source of points and steals.
* **Minnesota Timberwolves:** Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns. Rudy Gobert's blocks and boards are always solid. Naz Reid is a great scoring streamer.
* **New Orleans Pelicans:** Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram. CJ McCollum's threes. Herbert Jones for steals and efficient scoring.
* **New York Knicks:** Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle. OG Anunoby for steals and threes. Isaiah Hartenstein for blocks and boards.
* **Oklahoma City Thunder:** Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren. Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort – all get a boost.
* **San Antonio Spurs:** Victor Wembanyama. Devin Vassell's scoring. Jeremy Sochan could be a deeper league assist/rebound streamer.
* **Toronto Raptors:** Scottie Barnes. RJ Barrett. Immanuel Quickley. Their entire starting five gets a nice bump.
* **Utah Jazz:** Lauri Markkanen. Keyonte George's assists and threes. John Collins for blocks and boards.
* **Washington Wizards:** Kyle Kuzma. Jordan Poole. Deni Avdija. All get a slight bump for sheer volume.
* **Three-Game Teams (avoid if possible):** Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers.
* **Real talk:** Unless you have an absolute stud like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, or Kevin Durant, you need to be very cautious starting players from these teams this week. Guys like Dereck Lively II (DAL) or Michael Porter Jr. (DEN) become much harder to justify.
Many teams drop from four games to three this week, making it big to target those who maintain a heavy schedule.
* **Four-Game Teams (beyond the core four):**
* **Atlanta Hawks:** Still strong. Keep rolling with Okongwu.
* **Boston Celtics:** Still strong. White remains a good all-arounder.
* **Cleveland Cavaliers:** Still strong. Mobley is a great target here.
* **Golden State Warriors:** Still strong. Kuminga is a solid option.
* **Houston Rockets:** Still strong. Sengun and Thompson are excellent.
* **Los Angeles Clippers:** Still strong. Mann as a deeper stream.
* **Los Angeles Lakers:** Still strong. Reaves and Hachimura.
* **Memphis Grizzlies:** Still strong. JJJ's blocks are gold.
* **Miami Heat:** Still strong. Jaquez Jr.
* **Minnesota Timberwolves:** Still strong. Reid for scoring.
* **New Orleans Pelicans:** Still strong. Herb Jones.
* **New York Knicks:** Still strong. Hartenstein.
* **Oklahoma City Thunder:** Still strong. Giddey's assists.
* **San Antonio Spurs:** Still strong. Wembanyama is always great.
* **Toronto Raptors:** Still strong. Quickley for scoring.
* **Utah Jazz:** Still strong. Collins for big man stats.
* **Washington Wizards:** Still strong. Avdija.
* **Three-Game Teams:** Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers.
* **Hot Take:** It’s borderline malpractice to start anyone not named Luka, Jokic, or KD from these teams if you have a viable four-game option on your bench. Yes, even Kyrie Irving or Anthony Edwards from the T-Wolves (who have 4 games). You need volume.
The championship week. This is it. You absolutely cannot afford to have players with only three games.
* **Four-Game Teams (beyond the core four):**
* **Atlanta Hawks:** Still four.
* **Boston Celtics:** Still four.
* **Cleveland Cavaliers:** Still four.
* **Golden State Warriors:** Still four.
* **Houston Rockets:** Still four.
* **Los Angeles Clippers:** Still four.
* **Los Angeles Lakers:** Still four.
* **Memphis Grizzlies:** Still four.
* **Miami Heat:** Still four.
* **Minnesota Timberwolves:** Still four.
* **New Orleans Pelicans:** Still four.
* **New York Knicks:** Still four.
* **Oklahoma City Thunder:** Still four.
* **San Antonio Spurs:** Still four.
* **Toronto Raptors:** Still four.
* **Utah Jazz:** Still four.
* **Washington Wizards:** Still four.
* **Three-Game Teams:** Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers.
* Again, the same group. This means if you had a player like Jerami Grant (POR), who might get you 18 points on three games, but you could stream someone like Onyeka Okongwu (ATL) for 10 points, 8 boards, 2 blocks on four games, the latter gives you more overall production. Blocks and boards from a streamer can swing a category.
* **Atlanta Hawks:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Boston Celtics:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Brooklyn Nets:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Charlotte Hornets:** 4, 3, 3 (10 total)
* **Chicago Bulls:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Cleveland Cavaliers:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Dallas Mavericks:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Denver Nuggets:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Detroit Pistons:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Golden State Warriors:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Houston Rockets:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Indiana Pacers:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Los Angeles Clippers:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Los Angeles Lakers:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Memphis Grizzlies:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Miami Heat:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Milwaukee Bucks:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Minnesota Timberwolves:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **New Orleans Pelicans:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **New York Knicks:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Oklahoma City Thunder:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Orlando Magic:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Philadelphia 76ers:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Phoenix Suns:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Portland Trail Blazers:** 3, 3, 3 (9 total)
* **Sacramento Kings:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **San Antonio Spurs:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Toronto Raptors:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Utah Jazz:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
* **Washington Wizards:** 4, 4, 4 (12 total)
The Pistons also have 4 games in each week, my bad for not putting them in the initial list. Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren – all get a massive boost.
My bold prediction for the 2025-26 fantasy playoffs: The Detroit Pistons will be surprisingly relevant in fantasy championships due to their 12-game schedule, making Jalen Duren a league winner for blocks and rebounds.
Related Match Stats